18th Amendment and the powers of the President of Pakistan
Powers to exercise the authority as President are limited as the ceremonial figurehead.
(WebDesk) - Pakistani lawmakers have elected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s stalwart and a renowned politician Dr Arif Alvi as 13th President of Pakistan.
Also Read: Dr Arif ur Rehman Alvi - 10 things to know about the newly elected 13th President of Pakistan
It is the 8th time that a democratically elected President will be resumed the office. Arif Alvi is the 13th elected President of Pakistan. Out of 12 former Presidents, 07 were the civilian Presidents whereas four were the Military Presidents of Pakistan.
Also Read: Roles, powers, and other characteristics: everything you need to know about President of Pakistan
Once the office of the President was considered the center of commands, authorities and supremacy as the Head of state which had the ultimate power to even overthrown the elected Prime Minister and dismissed the elected Parliament.
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Civil and Military President of Pakistan.
After the 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan, the amended executive powers vested to the office of the President in the constitution of Pakistan after multiple amendments made in the original constitution of 1973, was at last surrendered by the former President of Pakistan Asif Zardari to the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan who in the parliamentary politics is officially entitled as the chief executive and is accountable by the Parliament.
After this relinquish of the authority and supremacy, Pakistan reversed into parliamentary democratic position of the constitution of 1973.
Also Read: The Democratically Elected and the Military Presidents of Pakistan
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Former President of Pakistan Asif Zardari signed the 8th amendment. Photo: File
During the reign of General Pervaiz Musharaf who later also resumed the office as President of Pakistan while holding his position as Chief of Army Staff after introducing the 17th Amendment and Legal Framework Order, he was the chairman of the National Security Council who had authority and control over the nuclear and strategic arsenals; however, the chairmanship and the powers transferred back to Prime Minister after the 18th amendment.
Pervaiz Musharaf during his reign as President was the chairman of the National Security Council who had authority and control over the nuclear and strategic arsenals
Here are the key power the office-bearer of the presidency can exercised after the 18th amendment:
The presidency office-bearer is a civil commander-in-chief of the military, with Chairman joint chiefs being its chief military adviser to maintain the control of the military.
Powers to exercise the authority as President are limited as the ceremonial figurehead.
President is required to address the Parliament to give a direction for national policies before being informed of its key decisions.
Other roles of the President include holding elections after the completion of the tenure of the Parliament or after the Parliament being dissolved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
President of Pakistan is the final authority as the signing authoriy to promulgate a bill into law or amend any legislation or the clause of the legislation after being passed from the both houses of the Parliament.
President of Pakistan address the combined parliament at the beginning of every constitutional term. President of Pakistan also holds the powers to grant pardons, reprieves, and clemency in cases recommended to him by the executive and the judiciary.
After a thorough confirmation comes from the Prime Minister, the President confirms the judicial appointments in the national court system
After 18th amendment, President cannot dissolve the assembly unilaterally albeit it can be dissolved only after the official request made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
President of Pakistan is also responsible to appoint the chiefs of armed forces after the confirmations from Prime Minister.
In addition, President himself has absolute constitutional immunity from criminal and civil proceedings, and no proceedings can be initiated or continued against him during the term of his office.
Translated and Edited by Mehreen Fatima
